The History Behind Berberine
The medicinal use of berberine, a plant compound found in plants like European barberry, phellodendron, Oregon grape, goldenseal, and goldthread dates back more than 3,000 years! People in China and South Asia used all parts of these plants including stems, leaves, and bark in various ways to heal various maladies. Today, berberine is being studied as a potential treatment for diabetes, high cholesterol, weight loss, and more.
Berberine acts by triggering an enzyme inside cells called AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). AMPK is found in a number of cells within the body and plays a role in regulating metabolism and energy levels. Berberine is also believed to affect which genes are turned on and off which may lead to an advantage in fighting against chronic conditions.
There is a reason why berberine has been relevant in the health and wellness world for so long. The possible benefits are wide-ranging for this highly available, safe to use supplement.
Viable Benefits of Berberine
With a long history of being a treatment for a number of ailments, berberine has some exciting possible benefits to provide for the human body. These benefits include:
Lowering Blood Sugar
Berberine has been found to reduce blood sugar levels, especially in those diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. A 2021 review of berberine’s effect on people with type 2 diabetes found that berberine, when consumed alone or combined with oral blood-sugar-lowering medications, significantly improved blood sugar levels, hemoglobin A1C, insulin resistance and markers of inflammation.
When berberine is used in conjunction with conventional treatments for diabetes, the improvements to blood sugar levels are even greater. Berberine may also help in alleviating the need for higher doses of the medications needed to treat diabetes, thereby reducing the side effects of some diabetes medications.
Supporting Heart Health
Clinical trials have shown that berberine is effective at reducing blood lipid levels including total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein (the “bad” LDL cholesterol), all of which are risk factors for heart disease. Some human and animal studies have found that berberine may help improve heart function and prevent heart failure by regulating specific pathways in the body.
Berberine has also been shown to lower blood pressure which lessens the risk of health complications like heart attack or stroke.
Losing Weight
There has been a lot of hype on social media about the effects of berberine on weight. Berberine has even been dubbed “nature’s ozempic” by some. Berberine may help with weight loss in a few different ways.
Berberine acts as an anti-sclerotic, which means it lowers cholesterol levels. It also increases the expression of a type of protein that helps break down fat-which is linked to long term weight loss. Berberine also has an effect on gut health, reducing the types of bacteria that lead to weight gain and increasing bacteria that could prevent obesity.
While more research is needed to conclusively state that berberine can be used as a weight loss aid, small studies show promise in reducing body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR).
Improving Gut Health
Berberine has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial aspects that may support the gut microbiome of people who suffer from gastrointestinal ailments like diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, and more.
In a randomized, placebo-controlled study published in Phytotherapy Research, patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome took 400 milligrams of berberine a day for eight weeks, resulting in improvements in diarrhea frequency and urgency, and abdominal pain.
Berberine has many possible advantages in reaching your optimal wellness. Adding a berberine supplement to your daily routine may lead to an improvement in many different areas of your overall wellness.
Berberine Supplementation
Berberine isn’t found in everyday foods, so supplementing it in powder or capsule form is the best way to enjoy its benefits. There are many options available on the market, but 10X Health’s Berberine Supplement is meticulously crafted to support your metabolic, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal wellness.
10X Health supplements use only the best, high-quality ingredients on the market. Our supplements do not include filler or additives. Experience the benefits that berberine has to offer with 10X Health’s 10X Berberine supplement.
Order your first bottle of 10X Health’s Berberine Supplement today!
